World Health Organization Sounds Alert Over Critical Lack of Obesity Injections

Under 10% of individuals who could benefit from weight-loss injections including Wegovy have access to them, states the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.

With more than one billion individuals worldwide now obese, it is calling for more widespread and fairer access to this class of drugs.

Based on estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.

"The new guidelines recognises that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong treatment," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Significant expense, limited production capacity, and logistical bottlenecks are significant hurdles to broad availability to the jabs that can help people shift substantial weight, says the agency.

Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis

Despite the current most favorable case, the manufacturing of these medications might only reach about 100 million people – fewer than 10% of the global need, per the WHO.

The recommendation urges nations and manufacturers to increase availability, via strategies including patent sharing.

A patent on semaglutide – the primary ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in multiple countries in 2026.

How Obesity Drugs Function

These medications imitate a natural hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and enhance satiety so users consume fewer calories.

Patients typically begin shedding pounds after several weeks of beginning the once-weekly jabs.

Evidence indicates people may regain a significant portion within a year of halting the medication, as their normal food cravings return.

Being carrying excess weight increases your chance for experiencing medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.

Obesity impacts individuals in all nations and was linked to over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the WHO.